Guidelines & Standards for the Provision of Support to Rape Survivors

This integrated and multi-sectoral response had been recognised in South Africa and internationally as a successful model for supporting survivors of sexual assault to reduce trauma, prevent HIV and STI infection and unwanted pregnancies and increase prosecution and conviction rates.

The guidelines and standards deal with the acute stage – that period of time following immediately after the rape for the victim; and the aftermath for the carers.

Dealing with the consequences of rape as a carer can also be traumatic. The distressing content of rape matters, in combination with high caseloads and the limited resources available to provide services makes counsellors and other frontline workers susceptible to trauma and burnout. Because the psychological response to traumatic events changes over time, support needs to be flexible and adapted to the particular stage of trauma survivors are experiencing.

Published by NACOSA with support from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis & Malaria, 2015